(CNN) – "We still have to communicate" the need for health care reform and what it is already starting to do.

That's the thinking of Nancy-Ann DeParle, the Director of the White House Office on Health Reform, sometimes called the "Health Reform Czar."

President Obama has embarked on a series of town hall-style rallies, including last week in Charlotte, N.C and Maine, to promote the laws that he signed last month, implementing major changes in health care policy.

The trips come as Republicans plan an election year mantra of "Repeal and Replace," all the while targeting what the GOP believes are Democrats made vulnerable by their votes for reform.

In an interview with CNN, DeParle says that because so much time was consumed on Capitol Hill politics, there's still a need to highlight "all the enormous benefits from reform, like the small business tax credits that we're rolling out now...[that] really kind of got lost. So, we all feel that we want to get out there and explain to the American people what's in this for them."

While polls show the American public leaning against the overall reform idea, DeParle and the White House are banking on voters liking various reforms, like what's "rolling out this year, a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions"

Ask if it has turned into more of a political sales job, as opposed to a victory tour, DeParle pauses. "I don't know if you call that politics or you call that policy, whatever it is, it's going to help people."

And with mid-term elections approaching, the emphasis will be on what's now being put into place, not the aspects of reform that take effect over the rest of the decade.

soundoff(28 Responses)

one voice

I listened to several GOP am radio stations the other day for several hours and couldn't believe what I was hearing. The dj's are blantantly lying about everything that comes out of their mouths. The callers are so misinformed they are angry at the wrong side because of this misinformation. The Corporations are the sponsers and they are the true enemy. they want to eliminate the middle class for total control (Corporation and Republicans against democrats and the middle and lower classes). HOW DEOS 3 DOLLARS AN HOUR SOUND TEABAGGERS?

April 8, 2010 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

bess

what does it say about legislation that passed Congress, the President signed, and yet they still need to convince the majority of American's how great and wonderful it is.

yah, says a lot... about how clueless and arrogant and tone-deaf Congress is towards the majority of American's... especially those who DON'T WANT mandated healthcare and the other 2,400+ pages of liberties lost that accompany it.

April 8, 2010 02:35 pm at 2:35 pm |

Carol

I saw Gov. Rendell on TV tauting the help for seniors in regards to closing the donut hole. He was talking about the $250 help they were getting. Well, guess what? The hole is $4550 for me so that's a LOT of help - NOT!!!!!